review: The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
publisher: Dutton Juvenile
release date: January 10, 2012
book links: goodreads / amazon
author links: twitter / site / YouTube
from goodreads - Two years post-miracle, sixteen-year-old Hazel is post-everything else, too; post-high school, post-friends and post-normalcy. And even though she could live for a long time (whatever that means), Hazel lives tethered to an oxygen tank, the tumors tenuously kept at bay with a constant chemical assault.
Enter Augustus Waters. A match made at cancer kid support group, Augustus is gorgeous, in remission, and shockingly to her, interested in Hazel. Being with Augustus is both an unexpected destination and a long-needed journey, pushing Hazel to re-examine how sickness and health, life and death, will define her and the legacy that everyone leaves behind.
my take - It’s no secret, I am not a big contemporary reader. I prefer fantasy to the realism of life. However, after reading and seeing the buzz for John Green’s newest novel, The Fault in Our Stars, I felt the need to give this book a go. Plus, I wanted to see if it would make me cry.
The story was brilliant, yet so simple. Two teens fighting for their life, and one fearing oblivion. The story is gripping, heart-warming, jarring, heart wrenching, funny and smart.
Hazel and Augustus. Their voices rang with truth, and were replete with desires and fears and frustrations. They gave the readers something to hold on to, and to hope for. As well, they were entertaining. They had a great vocabulary, panache for poetry and an unwavering want to know what happened to the characters in An Imperial Affliction.
How does John Green create these complex characters with depth, soul and wisdom? I’m not sure, but I do believe this book is a modern day classic. Why? It is the epitome of literary classics – timelessness, universal appeal and has the simple, yet beautiful expression of life and truth.
Some of the great things from this book are: it’s quote-ability, The Price of Dawn and Staff Sergeant Max Mayhem (haha), the trophy stomping, Anne Franks house and the kiss, the illustrated use of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs and Isaac.
The is a must read.
Stacy – So, I bet you’re wondering…did I cry. Well, the truth is no. I think it was a combination of several factors, but suffice it to say I didn’t even tear up. Though, I’m sure I’m in the minority.
I’m not a big contemp person either, but I know I need to read this one. I gave into the John Green love over the summer and read Paper Towns, which I LOVED, so I feel like JG can do no wrong. Seems like everyone has loved this one!
I hope ti read this next week. Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, huh? Now I’m REALLY interested in reading this book!
I teared-up at the prefuneral scene — the mix of humour and raw emotion was pretty powerful! Loved the book.
I’ve been struggling with how to review this book because I liked it so much. I’ve read everything by him and it’s his best work. I’m so glad he has such a following so this will be read by all his fans.
Since I really enjoyed Looking for Alaska, I figure this is another one of those “one minute you’re fine, the next you’re sobbing” books…
Can’t wait to read it!
I’m so scared to read this one because I don’t like books that make me cry! But I hear such great things I think I’m going to have to risk a tear or two!
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Loved this book. It will make you cry and laugh and wish you had a significant other like Gus and friends like Hazel and Isaac. I went on to read Looking for Alaska by John Green and got An Abundance of Katherines. His writing is brilliantly simply. It lifts up a story that could easily be a teenage melodrama and puts it into a forum that allows for pondering of the human condition.